Author: Doug Donnelly

Ottawa Lake native Doug Donnelly is the editor and publisher of The Advance and Overtime, the Lenawee County Sports Weekly.

#1 Blissfield Royals trounce Erie-Mason

In their first game as the number-one women’s Class C basketball team in the state, the Blissfield Royals showed why, demolishing Erie-Mason 68-17 Tuesday, Feb. 11.

The full story will appear in the Feb. 19, 2014, edition of The Advance.

For a special District basketball preview, please see the Feb. 19, 2014, edition of The Advance. To send “Good Luck” wishes to any Blissfield, Britton Deerfield or Whiteford basketball player – women as well as men – please contact Eric May at The Advance, 517-486-2400 by 5 p.m. Friday. Standard ads are just $39.

Blissfield women #1 in state AP basketball rankings

The 2013-14 Blissfield High School Royals women’s basketball team.

The Blissfield women’s basketball team has been named number-one in the state by the Feb. 11 Associated Press  poll, according to Steve Babbitt, Blissfield athletic director.

Coach Ryan Gilbert has coached the women to a perfect 12-0 season as of today (Feb. 11).

Following are the Class C state-rankings from the AP, as provided by Babbitt.

Class C
School (First-place votes) (Record) Points
1. Blissfield (1) (12-0) 65
2. Sandusky (2) (13-1) 61
T-3. Niles Brandywine (1) (14-1) 59
T-3. Reese (15-1) 59
5. Flint Hamady (15-1) 53
6. St. Ignace LaSalle (14-2) 51
7. Carson City-Crystal (14-1) 47
8. Saginaw Nouvel (11-3)        39
9. Gobles (14-0) 32
10. Hemlock (12-2) 27
For a special District basketball preview, please see the Feb. 19, 2014, edition of The Advance. To send “Good Luck” wishes to any Blissfield, Britton Deerfield or Whiteford basketball player – women as well as men – please contact Eric May at The Advance, 517-486-2400 by 5 p.m. Friday. Standard ads are just $39.

Weather update: 9:17 a.m. Feb. 5

A snowy U.S. 223 in Blissfield at 10 a.m. today (Wednesday, Feb. 5) as snow continued to fall. Copyright 2014, River Raisin Publications, Inc./Photo by Eric May
A snowy U.S. 223 in Blissfield at 10 a.m. today (Wednesday, Feb. 5) as snow continued to fall. Copyright 2014, River Raisin Publications, Inc./Photo by Eric May

The Lenawee County Road Commission is reporting near white-out conditions this morning (Feb. 5) as road crews work on getting the main roads clear. Road crews began plowing roads at 4 a.m. The county is now under a Level B snow condition yellow, which means road conditions are extremely hazardous with heavy snow and drifting conditions. Motorists are urged to curtail driving unless it is an emergency, according to Lenawee County Emergency Management coordinator Curtis Parks, who said the Level B will remain in effect until further notice.

Also, the Michigan State Police is out this morning with several vehicles stuck in the roadway in the area of U.S .223 between Driggs Road and Palmyra Road.
All Lenawee and Monroe county schools are closed for another day, due to the weather.

Weather advisories issued for area

The Lenawee County Emergency Management coordinator Curtis Parsons and Blissfield Village police chief Dale Greenleaf have issued weather advisories for the next 24 hours.

Parsons reports an accumulation of four to six inches of snow is possible this evening (Tuesday, Feb. 4-Wednesday, Feb. 5). A travelers’ advisory has been set in place beginning at 5 p.m. today and remaining in effect overnight. Drivers are urged to use caution as roadways become snow-covered and slippery.

Greenleaf has issued a snow emergency in the village of Blissfield effective midnight tonight and through midnight Wednesday. Any motor vehicle, trailer or moveable object must be removed from public streets and municipal parking lots. Vehicles in these areas are subject to being towed and ticketed in accordance with Blissfield Village Ordinance, Part 52, Section 52.013, Subsecton 2.5d(f). Owners of any such vehicles will be responsible for all tickets, towing and storage fees.

Property owners are reminded, according to the release, that it is a violation of the Michigan Motor Vehicle Code as adopted by Blissfield Village Ordinance, Part 52, to blow or deposit snow and ice onto public streets, sidewalks or municipal parking lots. Those who do may be ticketed.

Yvonne Diedrich

Yvonne S. Diedrich, age 57 of Blissfield, passed away unexpectedly at her home Wednesday, January 29, 2014. She was born August 17, 1956, in Toledo, Ohio to Raymond and Barbara (Barker) Hugill Sr. Yvonne graduated from Eastwood High School in Pemberville, Ohio, and attended both the University of Toledo and Bowling Green State University.

On July 23, 2002, Yvonne married Alfred Diedrich in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, and he survives.

Yvonne retired in 2011 from Toledo Public Schools where she was a sign language interpreter for 23 years, most recently at Waite High School. She enjoyed the students and served as an advisor for several school clubs. Yvonne collected cut glass and was a member of the American Cut Glass Association.

In addition to her mother, Barbara (Leonard) Jones of Canal Fulton, Ohio; she is survived by her husband, Alfred and their children: Angela Conley and James Canfield II, both of Toledo and Leandra Diedrich of Jasper; granddaughter, Savanna Canfield; brother, Raymond (Jeanie) Hugill, Jr. of Fremont, Ohio; and nieces, Christina Waugh and Jessica Kinkaid. Besides her father, she was preceded in death by a sister, Sharon Hugill.

Memorial services will take place Saturday, Feb. 8, at 11AM, at All Saints’ Episcopal Church, 563 Pinewood Ave., Toledo, OH 43604. Contributions in memory of Yvonne may be made to the Lenawee Humane Society or your local humane society. Arrangements have been entrusted to Wagley Funeral Home, Tagsold Chapel in Blissfield where online condolences and memories may be shared at www.WagleyFuneralHome.com.

Earl Gafner

Earl R. Gafner, 76 of Las Vegas, passed away on Wednesday January 29, 2014. Earl was born on December 29, 1937, Britton, Michigan. He was the son of Charles and Florence (Pickford) Gafner.

He is survived by his loving wife Galina Rudko of Las Vegas and former wife Lynne (Jacobs) Gafner of Blissfield and their children; a son Mark (Teresa) Gafner of Delta,Ohio, and daughter Valerie (Mike) Gunn of Ida, five grandchildren; Courtney, Jeff, and Kyle Gunn of Ida and Emily and Elizabeth Gafner of Delta, Ohio. Also surviving is a brother, Elwyn “Buzz” Gafner of Blissfield and a sister, Arlene McVay of Morenci. He was preceded in death by a sister, Madeline Lietzke of Blissfield.

After graduating from Blissfield High School, Earl served his country in the United States Marine Corps at 29 Palms, California and was released from active duty on July 22, 1958. He worked most of his career as a motor carrier officer for the Michigan State Police before retiring in 1992 with 28 years of service. Earl loved to travel and was proud to have taken his family to 48 of the United States.

In retirement, Earl traveled to all continents and was able to visit over 40 countries. Favorite spots include Lake Baikal, the deepest lake in the world which is located in Siberia, and Machu Picchu in Peru. Wherever he traveled in the world, Earl loved to display the pride of his Michigan heritage by wearing a University of Michigan shirt or displaying a block M on his vehicle.

Cremation will take place at McDermott Funeral Home in Las Vegas. Funeral service will be held at Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Boulder City, Nevada on Tuesday, February 18 at 8:40 am.

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